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Facebook: Ammunition for Divorce?

Posted on Jan 21, 2010 9:00am PST

What was initially created as way for college students to connect with
other students on campus now seems to be a breeding ground for evidence
of cheating husbands and wives. A British law firm claims that one in five
divorce cases they're working on cite the popular social networking site Facebook
as a factor in divorce.
According to an article featured in the UK's Telegraph, several divorce
attorneys are claiming the site makes it easy for users to cheat on their spouses.

Many people have logged into the site, only to discover that their husband
or wife has exchanged flirty messages with another user or participated
in inappropriate or sexually suggestive chats. These emails, "wall
posts", and chat conversations are now being used as evidence in
divorce cases. Florida is a no fault state, which means that infidelity or adultery will
not be taken into consideration during a divorce. However, in states like
New York that acknowledge adultery, this type of evidence could be very
damaging to the spouse who cheated.

In addition to getting caught cheating on one's spouse, Facebook is
also being used to gather evidence in
child custody and
spousal support/
child support cases. Photos of spouses partying, getting drunk, or acting crazy might
be used against them in a child custody hearing, suggesting the parent
is unfit to parent. Even "status updates", lies about personal
information (such as claiming they do not have any children), and/or leaving
demeaning or critical statements about the other spouse on his/her "wall"
can be used as ammunition in a divorce case.

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